Tag: DeColdest Crawford

2022 Husker Breakdown: Receivers and tight ends aplenty, who will step up?

Nebraska lost a lot of receiving production from last year, but a number of wideouts and tight ends have a chance to break out in 2021

Welcome to the third position-by-position breakdown of Nebraska Cornhuskers football, where the wide receivers and tight ends complete our analysis of the skill positions. The Huskers are pretty stable, at least on paper, at the quarterback and running back positions, but relatively speaking, the receiving core has a little bit more to prove. 

Just two of Nebraska’s 16 wide receivers on their roster donned the red and white last year. Former wideout Samori Toure is fighting for a roster spot with the Green Bay Packers currently after leading the Huskers with 898 yards and five touchdowns last year. Tight end Austin Allen, who set Nebraska single-season yardage records for a tight end, is doing the same with the New York Giants. No. 2 and 3 wideouts from 2021 Zavier Betts and Levi Falck are gone too. 

Nevertheless, the Nebraska pass catchers aren’t all doom and gloom, thanks to three transfers who should see a heap of playing time. Travis Vokolek is a physical presence at tight end that will improve on his 2021 stat line of 11 catches and 127 yards by leaps and bounds as well. 

But perhaps the biggest presence in the Husker’s group of pass catchers is someone that won’t be on the playing field: new wide receivers coach and former Nebraska QB Mickey Joseph, who arrives in Lincoln after coaching the likes of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson at LSU. 

Perhaps a reason why Nebraska’s wideouts haven’t been as heralded as the QB’s and RB’s is because Joseph hasn’t taken it easy on Nebraska’s receivers. 

“My thing is, I rule with an iron fist. They understand that. They accept that. I’m never going to cater to them. I’m never going to tell them what they want to hear. I’m always going to tell the truth. And I’m going to demand that they play with excellence. That’s how you win,” Joseph said.

However, there’s still a group of six wideouts that Joseph seems to think can make an impact, and the Huskers have a couple wild cards that could also break out too. 

Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple loves his tight ends as Pitt’s top TE duo combined for 768 yards and 10 touchdowns on 65 catches last year. Vokolek is a good bet to lead the bunch this year but if last season is any indicator, there’ll be room for other Huskers tight ends such as Thomas Fidone to shine. 

Nebraska WR Decoldest Crawford’s amazing air-conditioning commercial is NIL at its absolute best

“When your a/c isn’t the coldest…”

When your air-conditioner is broke, you go to the coldest to get it fixed. And the coldest will forever be synonymous with SOS Heating and Cooling after the Omaha-based company inked Nebraska freshman wide receiver Decoldest Crawford to a name, image and likeness deal.

Since the NIL rules created this new world of opportunities for college athletes, there hasn’t been a more perfect marriage of athlete and company. That was never more clear than Friday, when Crawford’s first commercial for SOS was released.

It doesn’t get much better than this. The puns and double entendres write themselves. “I’m always Decoldest.”

OK, so maybe Crawford isn’t the best ad salesman, but he’s in Lincoln to be the coldest football player he can be. Selling a/c units is just a perk of being Decoldest. His name does all the heavy lifting.

Unfortunately, the football part will have to wait, as Crawford has been ruled out for an extended period of time with a knee injury.

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Nebraska athlete’s NIL commercial goes viral for all the right reasons

The commercial is already creating a buzz on social media!

After a Nebraska wide receiver announced one of the unique Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals last month, we now have the first ad being released on social media in connection to that agreement. Freshman De’Coldest Crawford signed a NIL deal with SOS Heating and Cooling, an Omaha-based HVAC company late last July in an imaginative endorsement opportunity for the first-year pass catcher

Crawford played his high school ball at Green Oaks High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. The three-star recruit had been committed to playing at LSU for nearly two years before decommitting in December 2021 and signing with Nebraska 10 days later. He had been recruited to both schools by current Nebraska wide receiver coach Mikey Joseph.

On Monday, SOS released its first commercial with the Husker receiver, and the company has already gotten its money’s worth as the video currently has 4 million views on Twitter in less than 24 hours.

While Crawford has been able to cash in on his name off the field, he won’t be able to do much on it as head coach Scott Frost confirmed last week that Crawford suffered a severe injury during the Husker’s final scrimmage and will miss significant time as a result.

Nebraska WR Decoldest Crawford’s air conditioning commercial is absolutely spectacular

Nebraska receiver Decoldest Crawford has a spectacular new air conditioning commercial that is everything you could possibly imagine.

There are those who will tell you that college athletes who have NIL deals, allowing them to actually make money off their likenesses, will ruin college athletics forever.

Those people are 150% wrong, and we have the evidence to prove it.

Nebraska receiver Decoldest Crawford, who used his name and his fame to bag a sponsorship deal with Omaha’s SOS Heating and Cooling, has a new commercial that is everything you’d ever imagined NIL synergy to be.

Sit back and enjoy the awesomeness.

Crawford committed to the Cornhuskers in 2021 after a standout career at Green Oaks High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. Sadly, he’s going to be out for an extended period of time following a knee injury, but he’s already earned his greatness right here. As the man said, he’s “always Decoldest.”

Frost confirms one serious injury for Huskers heading into final scrimmage

The head coach also announced how many players will make the trip overseas for the season opener.

Nebraska head football coach Scott Frost spoke with the media following the Husker’s practice on Saturday afternoon. The fifth-year headman spoke on various subjects, including travel plans for the Husker’s trip overseas and an updated injury report. On Sunday, Nebraska will hold their final team scrimmage, which Frost says will help finalize the depth chart.

“We’ve got a scrimmage tomorrow. We’re going to kind of decide the format of that. And then we get a day off and we’re pretty much turning our attention to game one. A lot of decisions will be made. Probably have a better idea after tomorrow. We’ll probably have a depth chart.”

He also confirmed that the team has only suffered one serious injury in camp this fall.

“I can announce that we’ve had a lot of little injuries and guys missing a day or two here and there. (Wide receiver) DeColdest (Crawford) will be out for an extended period of time with a knee injury. It was in our last scrimmage and it was the only major injury. Felt terrible for him but he’ll come back strong.”

Frost clarified the team’s plans on how many players will travel to Dublin for the August 27th opener.

“It’s a conference game and we’re subject to the conference number when we’re suiting players up. We’re going to take everyone who was in camp. So 110 to Ireland but some won’t be able to dress.”

Nebraska is scheduled to leave for Dublin, Ireland, on August 22nd. The Huskers kick off the 2022 season when they take on the Northwestern Wildcats at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, August 27th. The start time is 11:30 am CST.

Below is a collection of social media coverage following Saturday’s workout.

 

Huskers WR De’Coldest Crawford fittingly signs NIL deal with HVAC company

An incoming Husker athlete has interesting NIL endorsement!

Nebraska freshman wide receiver De’Coldest Crawford made good use of his unique name, signing a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with SOS Heating and Cooling, an Omaha-based HVAC company.

Crawford, who rose to internet stardom when he was a student at Green Oaks High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, was a three-star recruit according to Rivals. He was committed to play at LSU for nearly two years before decommitting in December 2021 and signing with Nebraska 10 days later.

Many initially believed that Crawford’s full name was “De’Coldest ToEvaDoIt Crawford”, which launched him into a viral sensation before it was reported that his middle name is “Juan” instead.

While he has yet to take a snap for the Huskers, Crawford may be one of the most popular players on the team, given the reactions from his NIL deal on Twitter.

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DeColdest Crawford follows Mickey Joseph to the Big Ten

DeColdest joins Frost in the Big Ten

DeColdeest Crawford committed to LSU back in October 2019 but decommited and will go to Nebraska. Crawford will join former LSU receiver coach Mickey Joesph with the Cornhuskers.

Crawford is ranked the No. 20 overall prospect in Lousiana’s class and ranks No. 418 overall. According to the 247Sports composite, Crawford is the No. 66 ranked receiver in the country.

Crawford caught 50 passes for 813 yards six touchdowns as a junior in the 2020 season for Green Oaks High School. In 2021 Crawford had 30 catches for about 200 yards; his numbers dipped due to a freshman quarterback. He also made the District-1 3A All-District first-team as a defensive back. Crawford intercepted two passes on the season. The receiver is versatile, and he earned second-team as a returner.

Crawford had a relationship with Joesph, which is why he decided to join Nebraska. He has known Joseph for a few years and liked the receivers he helped get to the NFL.

“We’ve been knowing each other three or four years,” Crawford said. “He came and got me my sophomore year and we built a relationship. He’s taken a lot of receivers to the NFL, Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, so I feel like I can do the same thing with him.”

Losing Crawford is a tough loss for LSU, he is very talented and could have helped the Tigers. LSU must move forward and go with who they have, despite losing three wide receivers in the transfer portal and adding only one in recruiting.

Former LSU commit Decoldest Crawford announces top four schools

Days after he decommitted from LSU, Crawford announced his top four schools on Friday.

Whether it be current players entering the NCAA transfer portal or verbal commits choosing to open their recruitment, attrition is bound to happen after head coaching changes.

LSU has experienced quite a bit of both over the last few weeks. One of the most recent is three-star wide receiver Decoldest Crawford from the 2022 recruiting class. Days after decommitting from LSU, Crawford announced the top four schools in his recruitment.

Auburn, Nebraska, Texas and Florida were included. There doesn’t look to be a chance that Crawford could re-join the 2022 class under new head coach Brian Kelly.

Crawford is rated the No. 17 overall prospect in the state of Louisiana and the No. 61 wide receiver in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports composite rankings.

The Tigers currently hold the No. 24 class in the country for the 2022 cycle with less than a week until the early signing period. Kelly has a steep hill to climb in order to close out the cycle on a high note.

Former LSU commit Decoldest Crawford hints at top four schools

The Longhorns are in the running for former LSU commit Decoldest Crawford.

Texas is searching for immediate contributors for next season. Continue reading “Former LSU commit Decoldest Crawford hints at top four schools”

Four-star WR Decoldest Crawford is planning a Texas visit

Decoldest Crawford decommitted from LSU on Tuesday and is now working on scheduling a visit to Texas.

Just a couple hours after Decoldest Crawford announced that he was decommitting from LSU, the four-star receiver with a five-star name started working on setting up a visit to Texas.

The Shreveport, Louisiana native was immediately contacted by Texas wide receiver coach Andre Coleman after he announced via Twitter that he decided to re-open his recruitment. A decision that came after being committed to LSU for two years.

The potential Texas visit was first reported by Inside Texas, where they also explained that a major reason Crawford decided to decommit was due to the fact that LSU receiver coach Mickey Jospeh has left the program for a job at Nebraska.

Crawford has been a very productive receiver in his time at Green Oaks High School, where he racked up a career 119 catches, 2,013 yards, and 17 touchdowns. The Longhorns are in the market for receiver help outside of Xavier Worthy, who has been nothing but a star the entire season even with struggles at the quarterback position.

As it currently stands, Texas has yet to offer Crawford, but he had been committed to LSU the entirety of the Steve Sarkisian era.

There also seems be to a possibility that he follows Joseph to Nebraska, as they offered him almost immediately after he decommitted.

The Longhorns are in dire need of depth at the receiver position, and Crawford seems to look like a very nice depth piece that could carve a role out for himself down the line.